You Are A Fly On My Wall

Tinker's Three!!!

2012-02-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today my littlest turns three. She was born at about 7:30 AM February 18th, 2009. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I look back on those pictures from her birth and recollect vividly the first time she was placed in my arms. That little tiny body snuggled up to me - so perfect and the answer to my prayers.

We've had a lot of crazy times since then as I've gotten to know her. She's headstrong, stubborn, passionate, dramatic, fierce, and more and more loving every day. She has a hilarious sense of humor which makes it a lot easier to be a member of this family. She refuses to be potty trained, can't wait to start pre-school, adores her big sister, is scared of shadows, calls Natalie "Lallie", has a wonderful little singing voice, and climbs like a monkey. I love this little girl with a tenderness that can break my heart. To walk in her room at night and see her silent and serene and beautiful, it makes me so grateful that I was lucky enough for her to come into our family.

There's some questions going around that you can ask your kids on their birthday. I've done this a few times with Bugs but never Tinker. She's really only barely at an age where she can answer them.

Nicole is three!!

What is your favorite color? purple

What is your favorite toy? elephant

What is your favorite fruit? candy

What is your favorite tv show? Bubble Guppies

What is your favorite thing to for eat lunch? a cheese sandwich

What is your favorite outfit? um, i dunno

What is your favorite game? the eating game

What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks

What is your favorite animal? an elephant

What is your favorite song? Choose The Right

What is your favorite book? Hello Bee, Hello Me.

Who is your best friend? You, (mommy)

What is your favorite cereal? Ice Krippies

What is your favorite thing to do outside? ride a big old bike when I grow up like Lallie.

What is your favorite drink? milk

What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? elephants

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Ice Krippies

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? cupcakes

What do you want to be when you grow up? Big

Today, we started the day with birthday balloons then hit Chuck E Cheese for lunch where the kids spent a couple hours playing games. This was Tinker's choice - she couldn't wait to see "The Big Mouse". From there, we went to Build a Bear. Gateway was packed because of an Olympic remembering event going on and we waited in line for probably 45 minutes just to stuff the bear. We usually let the kids pick what we have for dinner but seeing as Tink only eats "loodles" (her favorite are the Wagon Wheel variety), we'll probably have something the whole family can agree on like ... peas. haha jk.

Happy Birthday Tink.

God Must Love Girl Scout Cookies

2012-01-30T19:19:00.001-07:00

Two weeks have flown by during which time Bugs and I have been devoted to selling Girl Scout cookies in her efforts to reach a certain goal. They sell themselves but it's still a ton of work!

We had two order forms nearly completely filled out, the second one filled out by spending hours this past Saturday driving all over town as Bugs went door to door. She was insanely brave for a 7 year old asking complete strangers to buy cookies. I was so proud of her because that's some serious scary stuff! She always took the rejection with a smile and I would want to punch the person in the nose. Just kidding - ok, maybe one or two times. Easy Mother Hen!

Yesterday sales officially ended and the order forms were due back to the Troop. Problem was, I hadn't seen that 2nd form since we got home on Saturday and it had been nagging at me for a couple of days. So when it was time to drive them over and drop them off, I couldn't find it anywhere. Anywhere.

Have you ever let your child down? Bigtime like this? I was not equipped to come clean with her innocent little brave face that I had screwed up so royally and lost all of her hard work. I was SURE I was the one who had lost it, thinking it very likely that I accidentally threw it away and the garbage truck came this morning. I was totally freaking out looking everywhere I could think of. I finally stopped and tried meditating through my steps on Saturday which only made me freak out worse. So I said a quickie prayer and immediately afterward, I was sure I said to myself, "Find her lunchbox and it'll be right with it." Bugs had her lunchbox in the car with us so she could eat her lunch while we were out selling. But I really did think it was my own voice - it was a good idea but it was MY idea, right?

A few minutes later, I was in her room and I looked under her bed, I think subconsciously looking for her lunchbox. There was the lunchbox...and right next to it was the order form.

It wasn't until later did I remember that simple sentence in my head, "Find her lunchbox and it'll be right with it." What I imagined at the time to be my own good idea is not so easily passed off as luck. I've never had a prayer answered so clearly. But there's no other explanation. I am humbled.

Ruffle Skirts - They're Addicting

2012-01-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

A couple years back I made a whole bunch of ruffle skirts for Bugs when she was 5 and now they no longer fit her. To buy them brand new, it is outrageous what they cost especially when you consider it takes probably $5 worth of remnant fabric and a few hours of time to make a better product than what can be purchased!

Problem now is that Bugs has grown. She has grasshopper legs like The Marshmallow and the skirts are way too short for her gangle legs (isn't that descriptive?)

I have a hard time buying patterns for ruffle skirts because there are so many free tutorials. But beware, some of them are LAME with poor directions, inaccurate measurements etc, etc, etc. Take for instance the one I made last night. I've made a lot of ruffle skirts so I knew where this woman was going wrong and made attempts to correct mistakes. But it was too far gone and while my result is wearable, the dimensions are screwy and I'd be better off unstitching it and adding a bit more fabric to make it more comfortable, let alone modest since it's really just too short. That's what I get for sewing when my kids are in bed and not available for try-ons.

The reason I tried this tutorial instead of going with one I already liked was that my very favorite tute I did a couple years ago was one I could not find for the life of me. I was sure I'd printed it off or bookmarked it somewhere but it was nowhere. This is the skirt.We get compliments on it wherever we go. Tink wears it now and it is adorable on her but I really wanted to make one for Bugs too!

I finally did a new search adding "2009" to my search terms and it was the 2nd google result! This was today and I am sooo happy! I'm definitely going to print it off and save it on my harddrive this time because it's tried and true and a total favorite. So, if you're looking for a very excellent tutorial that is excellent for beginners (it was the very first one I ever made) then this one is for you. Not to mention that it has stood the test of time. It's been through two children, the washer numerous times, lots of ironings and play times. Not a single stitch is coming out of place. It's a very full skirt with lots of fabric but that's what makes it so cute. Now that I have the tute again, I'm going to make several of these. Even as a beginner, I noted in my blog post that it only took me 1/2 a day to make it. Now that I'm a tiny bit more seasoned, I'll bet I can whip it up in just a couple 2-3 hours easy. Now that's what I'm talking about.

Here's the link to the tutorial:
http://www.polkadotchair.com/2009/09/sydneys-skirt-tutorial.html

Have fun!

Vaseline Report

2012-01-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you know the final results of my foray into Vaseline expulsion from the other night. I have rarely demonstrated such diligence into any particular effort. Time is too precious at this point.

My efforts at removing 2 oz of Vaseline from my beautiful microfiber duvet were...successful 100%. I didn't even want to open my eyes to do the final inspection after all efforts were exhausted. I did a final wash in the washing machine and let it dry on the line but once it was dry, I peeked at it through squinted eyes to see what I was left with. Because at that point, I would be left with whatever was there. I had no more ideas, no more effort.

This is what I tried and I do NOT know what was successful exactly but that the entire combination eventually did the trick. I'm putting this out there for posterity and the desperation of some random woman out there who wants to save her prized ... whatever it may be after her toddler discovered Vaseline. Vaseline.... it's viscosity must be that one temptation that can not be overcome by any amount of toddler will power. I speak from experience (two toddlers who have stuck pudgy hands down deep into pots of the stuff).

I.......
1) cried.
2) washed with Tide & OxyClean on hot (do not dry)
3) scrape all remaining Vaseline off with a butter knife
4) dab vigorously with alcohol
5) spray hydrogen peroxide generously and lightly scrub
6) spray all spots with WD40, let sit for 18 hours (less is probably fine - I just didn't get back to it before then)

At this point I was highly alarmed at the "stain" that the WD40 left and thought I'd have a new disaster to deal with so I...

7) doused the whole stain with dish soap, plunged it into a bathtub of hot water and scrubbed like a woman from 1870.
8) let sit in the hot water until the hot water wasn't hot anymore
9) threw it all into the washing machine AGAIN and washed for a normal cycle on hot with Tide and Oxyclean.
10) Line dried

I think it looked better than it did before. Whew! I think that Vaseline will forever be on the list of items not allowed in this house ever again upon risk of hanging. I'm serious.

Vaseline - Not a Mother's Friend

2012-01-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

or perhaps a 3 year old and quiet time are not a mother's friend. Either way, my oldest came to me while I was otherwise engaged (enjoying the fact that my children were occupying themselves which should have been the first sign of chaos), to inform me that Tink was sitting on my bed covered in Vaseline.

Reverse to about 8 months ago when I finally allowed myself to purchase a beautiful new Duvet cover plus sheets and the whole nine yards for my King sized bed. I only mention the size because the bigger the bed, the bigger the investment. And yes, it was a heavy investment, one I had been thinking about for a long time but knew it was going to break the bank. So I'm totally in love with my duvet which is a stormy blue sort of micro-fiber and is soft as a baby's bum. It's one day I wish my bed wasn't made because who gives about white sheets? Vaseline stains wouldn't even show up!

That [precious] child of mine had vaseline caked all over her face, stuffed clear to the brim of her entire ear, and slicked into her hair like Pomade from the seventies, at least. It covered her shirt and her hands were practically webbed. But all of THAT is easy to clean compared to the mess on my beautiful duvet [that is only a possession, nothing at all compared to my daughter who is of greater worth than all my material wealth...] that brings me such joy at night. To my credit, I did not yell at all. All I said was, "was that naughty or nice?" she says, "naughty" and I have to smile at her tiny, greasy face that is so precious and beautiful and curious and trouble-some. These are not the times when I lose my cool fortunately.

I immediately laundered the items on high heat. Whether or not that was recommended, it was instinct. Pre-treat and high heat for oil. It did not work...at all. There was still vaseline residue all over even. On to rubbing alcohol...rubbing each and every spot and there are millions. This worked for about a 50% improvement. Next...hydrogen peroxide which worked considerably better but my elbow grease is running out. Where can you buy that stuff...I need some more NOW! Currently I'm waiting the alloted 10 minutes with the WD40 takes a crack. I'm also testing ChemDry carpet cleaner, and will move on to baby powder, baking soda and mixtures of all sorts of things should these solutions prove fruitless. It's 10pm. I'm wearing out.

For the record, the child is not yet 3. She will be 3 in about 3 weeks. Just this morning at a store I commented to a store clerk that I hoped that 3 would be better than 2 and that it was seeming a possibility as her behavior is starting on an upward trend. I either should have immediately found some wood or just kept my trap shut seeing as how the day ended up.

I almost forgot, my first line of defense was to plop the kid into the bathtub where I thought I washed her well. She was squeeky. However later when I got around to putting her to bed, I picked her up to nuzzle her neck and stuck my nose into a glob of Vaseline in her hair. I guess I didn't lather her quite enough. She looked like a greasy homeless child as she went to bed. At least she's happy.

Impressive Dedication

2012-01-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

The other day I was at the rec center waiting for a spin class to start. I have to get there about 15 minutes early sometimes to make sure I get a bike and this day the previous class wasn't out yet so I sat outside the room waiting. In the area where I was sitting is also the prep area for the skating rink. It was 5:45 AM and it was dark outside, the rec center was practically deserted.

After a few minutes, in comes this girl about 14 years old. She trudged slowly in carrying a huge and obviously heavy duffel bag slung over her sagging shoulder. She had bed hair and her eyes never left the floor. She was obviously wishing she was still in bed. But she sat down, pulled off her big cozy boots and proceeded to dig into the depths of the duffel bag to pull out her ice skates.

When the girl had gotten one of skates on, I noticed someone else coming into the area. This was a tall, thin woman wearing sweats and a huge down coat that looked like she had dragged her comforter off her bed and into the car with her. A hat covered her bedhead and she carried a large soda and a chocolate covered doughnut wrapped in a greasy napkin. She set these down on the table next to me and sat on the bench across from the girl to help her put on her other skate. They talked softly as they worked together to get the girl ready to go out on the ice.

I had nothing else pressing going on so I watched what was obviously a frequent occurrence in these two peoples' lives. They had the drill down all the way to the greasy doughnut. I was impressed with the young girl because at that age, to have found something she was willing to sacrifice sleep for is paramount to establishing necessary self-discipline and confidence (both of which are not necessarily high on the priority list of a typical 14 year old). I was struck by the fact that although she probably wanted to keep sleeping that morning, she still found the inner strength to show up. To Be There. To Just Do It. I started feeling a little less sorry for myself for sitting there at 5:45 to ride a bike - a recreational task that likely won't do much for me other than make me breathe really hard and make me sore tomorrow.

What's more, I was equally as impressed with the girl's mother who I ended up talking to more later on when her daughter went out onto the ice. This mother could have easily made the decision early on that before-dawn lessons were too much to ask. That it just went above and beyond what she should have to do to be a good mom. But there she was. She Was There. Doughnut in hand. She was Doing It. Putting herself out there - making herself uncomfortable for a totally unselfish reason. Being there for her daughter. It almost made me cry I was so proud of her. But also I had to consider my role as a mother. Would I easily make that decision? Would I be that doughnut-toting, 5:45 AM, help-my-daughter-with-her-skates, give-up-my-own-sleep mom? Would I? Or would I say, can't we take a lesson at another time?

Turns out this girl has lessons 7 days a week. 3x a week they are early in the morning. It was almost an every-day occurrence. She said they weren't necessarily on the "fast-track" to competition anymore due to an injury but that they were still serious. Even more applause. I just don't think I could do it. I could be selling myself short, who knows. We all do "what we have to do", right? Given a similar situation and it's what my daughter really wanted, perhaps I'd Be There too. But right now, an 8:00 piano lessons once a week sometimes feels over the top. I've got room to grow.

Way To Go Doughnut-Mom!

e-Mealz - I'll Take The Help

2012-01-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, I have gradually made the transition from being more of a stay-at-home mom to more of a working mom. It's not a transition I took lightly and even still the growing pains keep me up at night. I fret and cry when my children do monumental or even non-monumental things with the babysitter (Sandra - may the Lord transfigure her because she's worth her weight in gold). But, I have paid off over $15,000 worth of debt in the past year and so if I'm going to work so hard, and be removed from my children, at least the money is well spent. I can't say at this point in my life if it is worth the justification but it is important to get out of debt and I am making some hopefully temporary sacrifices that the whole family feels.

On Sunday, my biggest goal of the day was to plan a month's worth of meals, get the grocery list prepared and thereby feel more in control of family meals, seeing as Pizza and Fend-for-Yourself are common menu items around my house. But, as I sat down to do work on this enormous and usually un-achievable task, a documentary came on TV about Groupon (I LOVE Groupon). So in my natural MO, I procrastinated the meal-planning and headed to the Groupon site where they were having a deal for e-Mealz. What the...? $29 for a year's worth of meal plans and grocery lists. You'd have thought the Lord was watching over me and having pity on me!

I thought $29 (50% off) wasn't a bad price to pay to try out what they were touting. I gave it a try. I downloaded a PDF file that has 7 meal plans including recipes and grocery list. The meal plans were from scratch meals that did not include pre-packaged items. All meals include a vegetable at least and sometimes have two sides, and none of the sides are ..."warm up a can of beans" which I love.

The only thing I didn't love was the dropdown menu where you choose your grocery store. The only one for this area was WalMart so I choose that one. They said they'll be adding Smith's soon but there's also a generic shopping list with no associated prices. For the WalMart list, they were able to list all of the prices and brands which made shopping very easy. I do prefer to shop at Smith's however. The grocery list was divided into section of the grocery store, i.e. frozen, produce, refrigerator, baking goods, etc. My grocery trip lasted 1 hour. I got everything on my list and I spent $75 after removing items I already had on hand which were several.

This week, the menu items included Swiss Chicken, Stir-Fry Beef, Barbeque-Bacon Hawaiian Pizza, Chicken Pasta Salad on Romaine, Baked Talapia (can't remember the rest). Sides included Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, warm rolls, fresh zucchini & asparagus salad. Everything was made from scratch including the teriyaki sauce for the stir fry. I am 6/7 meals and so far my 7 year old AND 2 year old (and finicky husband) have enjoyed every single meal. Perhaps even more, they have enjoyed that I am cooking a real meal and we eat together at the table. BONUS!

Better yet, I can switch my plan from 3-6 people to 1-2 at any time or back and forth. I can even choose Whole Foods grocery store.

After I went shopping, I came home and prepped a few items that would help me on busy evenings. I cooked a lb. of ground beef, steamed 2 cups of rice, cooked some bacon and chopped up some sirloin steak. This week was the test. I worked 4/5 days and each evening at 5pm when I walked in the door, it was easy for me to prep a quick meal and have dinner on the table by 5:45 easy. All the meat was defrosted because I refrigerated it all instead of freezing it, knowing I'd be using it within the week. That was a HUGE help.

Next week's meals include:
Chicken Tetrazinni
Beef Burgundy
Sausage and Zucchini Soup
Russian Chicken
Seared Catfish Subs
Sloppy Joe's
Slow Bake BBQ Chicken

Each week will include an "Easy Meal" and this week there is a crock-pot meal, a 30-minute meal, and a Slow Bake meal. I like these distinctions next to the name of the meal so I can decide which meal to cook which night depending on the time I have.

I recommend this to ANY person who struggles trying to stay ahead of the game, figure out what to cook and do so in a creative and edible manner. I rave this service. In one week, I have reconnected with my family and providing them with a part of me that I think they deserve.

Woohoo!

Reading Challenge 2011

2012-01-07T21:43:00.000-07:00

In 2011, I participated and completed a challenge on GoodReads to read 104 books before Dec 31. That equates to 2 books per week and can be any genre and any format.

I'm a avid reader and yet the thought of reading this many books in one year was a little daunting, and so the challenge seemed like an interesting and yet challenging task.

I finished the challenge on Dec 30; I was worried I wouldn't finish. But, I did finish with what seemed like seconds to spare. All of the books I read were actual novels, and a few of them were kid novels that I read to Bugs.

I'm memoralizing this experiece on my blog because it was much harder than I thought it was going to be. And not a little stressful. I even got to the point at times when I resented my challenge because many of my "free" moments had to be dedicated to reading in order to keep the consistency of appx 2 books/week. At times I got ahead, and then other times I got behid. A few times I read incredibly long books and had to make up for it by finding novels that were shorter.

I learned a few things about myself during this experience that I felt important to document.

1. I'm shallow. I read and only truly enjoy foo-foo novels that entertain and help me escape. If they are too thought-provoking, realistic, or slow my interest waned and the GoodReads rating was poor.

2. I evetually figured out that I do enjoy some non-fiction. I read a few books about WWI, the legal system, etc. and found that I felt better about myself after the book was finished, as if I had accomplished something instead of escaped to Never-neverland.

3. I like to read but it's not the only thing I enjoy. Many other interests were side-lined this year, forsaken for a book. This really go to wear on me. So before this challenge I thought that I would always opt for a book over most other things. Now, I know that while reading still ranks high, it does not always surpass all other activities. I do like to still particpate in my life.

4. I don't need a challenge in order to read. And I don't want one. I read enough to meet any reasonable challenge and anything more than that is simply not healthy. My poor family!

Thanks to GoodReads, 75% of the books I read were sheer winners. I found myself rating book after book 4 and above. This is because of the awesomeness of GoodReads and one's ability to ascertain easily whether a book is going to be a good match for a reader. I have compiled a huge list of "to reads" that I know will meet this same percentage of success because I have amassed a group of "friends" (mainly people I don't know but that I DO know have my same interests in books) who I can peruse their booklist and compare our tastes and then stock my list with the ones that are a good fit for my style. If you find yourself slogging through lame book after book, you need to get on GoodReads. I am a broken record about this.

If you're interested in the list of books I read in 2011, and you aren't my friend on GoodReads, you can go to this link to see them all. Toward the end of the year I started listing my ranking. If you would like to create a GoodReads (www.goodreads.com) account and add me as a friend, my username is AmyNielsen. My books are tagged and one of the tag is 2011 booklist so you can also see all of the books there as well, except one is missing and I can't figure out which one. The latter method is preferred because then you have access to all of my ratings and I do an extensive review for each book.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/511793-amy-s-2011-challenge-booklist

Now that the challenge is over, I am still reading but have added a great deal of non-fiction to my reading list. I'm currently reading a book about the Civil War battlefields which is amazing. But I can now make better use of my Netflix account, do a little scrapbooking, cleaning, baking and a variety of other activities. It will be nice to round out my life a little bit. This past year was super fun with all the reading but balancing will be a great experience too. Onto the next...

Helplessness Defined

2011-09-25T21:39:00.000-06:00

On Friday it wasn't totally hot outside, but it was in my driveway. And I'm sure it was extra hot to 2 year old Tinkerpot, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt buckled tight in her carseat...locked in my car in the noonday sun. The moment I let go of the handle, I knew that I had not only locked my car keys into the front seat of my car, but I also locked my purse and cell phone there also. I wore a short sleeved shirt and standing there next to her, I was sweating and not just because I was helpless.

I was just leaving to do a few errands and I left the back door open just in case Bugs came home from school and I was delayed for a minute or two so she could get in. If I hadn't done that, I'm sure I don't know what I would have done. However, it was still bad. I raced inside through the back door and called Triple A. But I only have one phone in my whole house because who uses their land line anyway? And the phone I have is not a handset. So, while I was racing through information to get the number, and then trying to convey the urgency to the AAA operator, I was stuck INSIDE while my poor baby was out in the driveway alone and hot and crying and not knowing what was going on. I was dying.

I finally was able to go back out there but that was just the start of a 15 minute wait until the police and the AAA guy came. During that time, I toyed constantly with the idea of breaking through the window. At one point, I was able to get Tink to release the bottom buckle on her belt and she was able to wriggle out enough to take her shirt off. At this point, she was sweating and flushed and I was freaking out. Her eyes leaked tears but she was so brave and her eyes locked with mine the whole time like she knew it was serious. But although she was 75% out of the seatbelt and able to reach the door handle and door lock, I could not bring her to understand how they operate. (she knows now). That was the most infuriating part - knowing her hands were on the door lever and lock button but unable to get her to engage. And my frustration transferred to her because she started to cry again and I knew I had to just stop encouraging her to keep trying. It was too upsetting.

I'm so grateful that it wasn't July or August. Had it been, I would have broken that window, no question. I'm also so grateful for the two men that came as fast as they could knowing that a child was locked in a hot car. They were so nice and worked so quickly.

After getting Tink cooled off and both of us calmed down, we went on only one errand. To Ace Hardware where I made about 4 extra car and house keys. I will not stand helpless outside a car again watching my child suffer. It was unbearable.

A Few Changes Around Here

2011-08-10T20:24:00.000-06:00

They're actually kind of big in terms of impact to the scheme of things.

First of all, I downsized my company. I let go of about 1/3 of everything (employees, contracts etc.) and am now focusing my efforts geographically in a more efficient area. I will be working more strategically now. I've been doing this for 2 weeks so far, and I am a new person. I feel amazing! I wish I'd done it earlier but I learned some valuable lessons about priorities. This was an extremely difficult decision to make and if it weren't for the Lord, I wouldn't have been able to do it - decide or implement the changes. It was frightening even if the money is the same. Here...on the other side of the decision, I can see how much I was guided and protected and I'm so grateful.

By changing the way I work, I have freed up my time to enable me to spend more of it doing things that I love. Like spending time with my kids...quality time. I was able to spend time with them before but I was constantly checking my phone, answering calls & texts and stressing out the whole time about work I needed to be doing. That was wretched!

This change has also enabled me to have time for other interests of mine, like going back to sewing. My poor sewing machine has sat on my sewing desk very neglected for almost a year and I've been so sad about not having the time to play. I was getting into it so much right before my life got out of control. I'm back now...with plans. Today, I made the girls these cute little swim cover-ups out of bath towels. I had one just like it when I was a girl. I've been wanting to make these ALL summer. Too bad summer's nearly over but they'll be great for next summer too.

The last thing is that joined our stake orchestra. I haven't played my flute in years, like 15 of them. I believe I played at my grandpa's funeral in 1996 but since then haven't done much besides pick it up now and then and blow into it. It was in rough shape when I pulled it out of the case but had it repaired and it's good to go. I'm amazed at how much I suck! But, I'm also amazed at how quickly it's coming back to me and how good it feels to be playing in an orchestra again. I've spent many years sitting in an orchestra and it was so great to do it again; feel part of that group. And I actually have time to practice...daily even! My fluting muscles (hehe) are not in shape and I'm having a great time working them out :) Wanna see a funny picture? I think I was like 15 in this picture. Shortly after I decided I was too cool to do this anymore and have always regretted that decision but that's hindsight.

All in all, things are getting better by the moment.

Super Super Something

2011-07-11T20:16:00.001-06:00

I've spent the last year of my life so busy that to even find time to clean a toilet throws me over the edge. Fast forward to this summer and the thoughts I keep having about being the kind of mom I always envisioned. In short, I have TWO children now who are relying on me to be a super-awesome, super-fun...Mom. No, that's not exactly what I aspired to be but it did have something to do with being super.

Needless to say if I go along in the fashion I've been hurtling along for the past year, my kiddos would get the shaft this summer, spending a lot time jumping on a tramp over a sprinkler. NOT that there's anything wrong with that - lots of good wholesome fun, but not necessarily what I want them to remember the summers for. I want them to have great memories of fun things that we did. So every Monday, we try to do something fun, irregular and summery. It's only mid-July but so far we've had some good times...

Bowling...

Liberty Park Seven Canyons (twice)...

Lagoon (twice)...

Spenser Eccles Dinosaur Park:

Not to mention the Gateway Fountains numerous times, tons of swimming, a Drive-In movie and every other kid movie that has come out this summer.

Summing it up like this, I guess I shouldn't have any fear that my kids aren't have any fun. Not to mention that doing these things has reduced my stress immeasurably. Imagine that :)

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

2011-07-05T21:59:00.001-06:00

It is so great that we no longer have a little "lump in the carseat" but rather an active participating member of our family. Tinker is just another one of the kids now and it's awesome. It made for some terrific fun this weekend.

We had a great time this weekend...a few minor hiccups...but all in all, it was everything a 4th of July should be.

Saturday, we packed up the truck and went camping. We pitched a tent and slept under the stars. Well, The Marshmallow and Tinker slept in a cabin but Bugs and I slept on the cold ground in sleeping bags. We played games [on my iPad] and ate trailmix until we tipped over.

We came home early the next day with The Marshmallow's sister's family and we packed (again) and got lazy at Liberty Park while the kids played in the Seven Canyons exhibit. It was HOT, but we found shade and ate hot dogs and drank energy drinks.

We got home just in time to throw together a full fledged bbq for a bunch of our nephews and their girlfriends and our houseguests (The Marshmallow's sister and her fam). True to youth, the nephews rushed off to a club shortly after eating leaving us the mess and an empty Sunday evening which we put to good use...with our heads on our pillows. We were pooped.

Monday morning brought our houseguests wanting to have more fun...this time the plan was Lagoon. Lagoon hasn't been on our radar since the last time we went, Bugs was terrified of even the Carousel. But she's been itching to go try the roller coasters after experiencing the milder forms at Disneyland last year. So we went.

That's when my bro-in-law talked me into the freefall swing. What the... 2 times might I add. The first time found me in a fetal position, screaming my head off with my hands over my eyes...the entire time. The 2nd time however I enjoyed it much more. The first plummet is quite terrifying and you can literally feel your guts floating as they suspend against gravity. 24 plus hours later folks, I am still nauseated...really. You can see the vid on my FB page but here's some entertaining pictures.
click on these pics for closer up fun :)

OOOOOORGAmi this looks good

2011-06-25T13:04:00.002-06:00

Peanut Butter S'mores

8 large chocolate chip cookies

4 teaspoons hot fudge ice cream topping

4 large marshmallows

4 peanut butter cups

Spread the bottoms of four cookies with fudge topping.Using a long-handled fork, grill marshmallows 6 in. from medium-hot heat until golden brown, turning occasionally. Carefully place a marshmallow and a peanut butter cup on each fudge-topped cookie; top with remaining cookies. Serve immediately.

I'm having a family get together tomorrow evening where we're going to cook dutch oven...everything. And while the dessert I'm making is definitely kid-approved (an easy Strawberry Shortcake recipe I recently got from a friend), if the kids decide to partake, there won't be enough for the grown-ups (like there won't be the 3 servings a piece that this shortcake incites). So, I'm thinking I'll pull out the ingredients to make these S'mores. They look awesome! And, any leftovers will do for my midnight closet-snack!

I forgot to say why I'm hosting this gathering and that's the most important thing of all! My cute niece who all of the sudden graduated from high school and (I say all of the sudden because it literally to me was yesterday that she was in diapers), and is headed off to basic training in the next couple of weeks. I am so excited for her and think it's such an amazing decision. I'm grateful that she's had responsible parenting that can guide her into making healthy decisions about her future. Anyway, I'm going to miss her so much. She's such a remarkable girl and I can only hope to have my girls grow up into the woman she's become.

Spring...in June

2011-06-07T21:58:00.001-06:00

I've lived in my home for 6 years and this is the first year I've seen a peony from this peony bush. This fall, I'm moving it because the flowers on this bush are pink and seeing this beautiful bud makes me sad for all the years I've missed it. I'm going to put it somewhere where it will bloom every year. I got a lonely bud on this bush...

Publish Post

Last year, a friend gave me a huge sack of Irises she was thinning out. I had no idea what was in there. It was just a bunch of rhisomes. I planted them just to see what would come up, not actually expecting anything this year. It was well past the time most Irises bloom so I didn't have much hope but then, I was thrilled to see these beautiful and unique blooms (so different from the purple blossoms so many others have)... I'm so in love with them. Aren't they beautiful?

Last but not least, the roses. What happened to my poor roses this year? I had to cut off so much dead wood this Spring I thought surely they were gone for good. And nearly 6 weeks later than usual, my roses are about to bloom. And I suspect they are going to be gorgeous with as many buds as there are on each of my bushes. I always say a good hacking is what roses need but this was ridiculous!

You Know Your Baby's Not a Baby Anymore When...

2011-06-07T21:37:00.001-06:00

When you replace the rocking chair...with a desk.

I picked this ancient desk up at the thrift shop for $20. Little paint, some nails, new knobs and Tinkerbell decals (chosen by her because she IS Tinker), and it's good as new. I'm glad that as busy as I am, I can still do most of the stuff my mom did for me. My desk had Holly Hobbie (I still have it).

I could just eat her up.

Bin Laden

2011-05-01T22:16:00.001-06:00

is dead and Obama took all the credit, as if he pulled the trigger. I imagine he had something to do with it, and I'm sure glad it's true, but Obama is very obviously doing his best to put a good first foot forward with his impending campaign. How many times can you say, "I did..." in one presidential speech?

Woohoo! Go Military!

Do You Have Spring Fever?

2011-04-29T13:02:00.002-06:00

I do. And the nursery probably thinks I'm a lunatic. I really love annuals. And I bought a ton of them the other day. It's ridiculous mainly because I'm not really supposed to be planting them yet. So I put them in a little wagon that I pull back and forth from the front lawn to my garage every night and morning. If they can't be in my flower beds, they can at least be gracing my porch during the day, right?

I cleaned up the flower bed by the porch the other day which is probably what got me started. With being so busy this winter, it was so nice to simply close my mind to work tasks and take a deep breath of spring air and get my hands dirty. There is hardly a better feeling than brushing away the old leaves and dead debris from around the base of newly sprouting perennials to see what is growing up underneath the dead. I planted a few new perennials last year, which I then promptly forgot about and so clearing away this year is kind of like Christmas, finding things that I forgot about. It's kind of nice at times to have dementia :)

This year, I have a little buddy out there in the yard with me named Tinker. Every other year prior, she's been a PIA to me instead of just hanging. She'd be eating dirt, running in the road and generally freaking me out that she'd fall down the steps or get tangled up in a rose bush. This year she wants to help me plant, help me water, carry garbage, pull the wagon, and dig up lots and lots of dirt. Oh - I forgot, she mainly loves to pick dandelions. Loverly. I remember these days from when Bugs was two. I love having a gardening buddy.

I'm so happy Spring is finally here. My mood is flowering.

And Now I Know

2011-03-29T14:50:00.003-06:00

not to eat walnuts because evidently they crack your teeth. Seriously - it was a WALNUT. A little tiny piece, no less. And it cracked my tooth right down to below the gum line. My dentist told me that the only thing that was keeping the tooth together in one piece, and incidentally, in my mouth at all, was my poor gum, which was seriously so sore I couldn't even eat a scrambled egg.

And now, post crown prep, I literally canceled all my appointments and came home to sit because although I am still entirely numb, my head aches so bad I want to pop it like a zit. Not to mention I'm dizzy and disoriented.

Thank goodness my dentist had an opening today. It's funny how one little tiny piece of bone can seize up the entire engine of a person's day...just like that. Shows you who's in control anyway.

If I go buy some shoes, I'll feel better.

Good Timing

2011-03-28T23:11:00.004-06:00

Four years ago, my dentist told me that I needed to replace two old root canals with crowns and that if I didn't, I ran the risk of the tooth becoming brittle and breaking.

They cost like $700 each. Needless to say, it wasn't too high on my priority list especially because they weren't broken yet.

Fast forward to today. Crack!

Reverse to 1 week ago when I finally decided I had the moolah and made an appointment to get the first crown done - on the side that the soon to be cracked tooth would be.

Now tell me I don't have a little angel sitting on my shoulder.

If You Have Character, Please Rise

2011-03-24T21:17:00.003-06:00

I'm reading a book (what else is new) that has some really interesting ideas in it. They're not novel, especially to our faith. But they're worded in a way that is making me stop and reflect. Like the purpose of challenge and pain in our lives. We all know that our challenges and frustrations help us grow into the sort of people that we want to be but the same idea was put forward that the same people, without the challenges and obstacles that we each face would be dry husks of that same person who has undergone trials in their lives. Challenges are what change us into a person that can be differentiated from another person primarily because they are what develop character. What it specifically said is that what a person does in the face of challenges is what sets them apart from another person.

I know that I undergo challenge after challenge every single day. From an overly busy job, to learning how to become a good manager (like herding cats), to finding the balance of work and motherhood, providing for all of the needs of my family - these are things I do every day. I scramble through each day just trying to end up with my mouth above the water line. But perhaps I can do this better. Maybe how I'm doing it all is very expected. What if I could find a way to rise above - excel, thrive, grow in these challenges instead of just existing/struggling/getting by to reach the next day.

Getting Re-Prepared

2011-03-21T20:26:00.006-06:00

Why does it take a community's collective practical destruction for me to get my head back into my own personal preparation? It's been nearly 2 years since I've looked at my family's 72 hour kits. In that time, each member has changed a lot and the kits are no longer a viable solution for us in the state that they are currently in (the kits that is).

In that two years, the baby is no longer in 3-6 clothes, not on formula anymore, and no longer wearing size 2 diapers. Yet her kit had all baby stuff in it, right down to bottles and burp pads.

Today I did a total overhaul. I replaced all of the food, even the meal replacement bars. I replaced and sanitized the water, bought new food & medications, changing clothing choices and increased sizes for the kidlings.

I replaced insurance documents, re-assessed the financial preparations that were included in the kit (checks, cash, credit etc.) and copied new documents. I also made new "Lost" signs for my family with updated information and pictures which was a relief. The most important part of an emergency is finding all of your loved ones and the last thing I want to do is put together a poster.

The National Center for Terrorism suggests placing your 72 hour kits in a protected place in your backyard which is an interesting thought considering an earthquake (our likely event) will probably not hurt your backyard too much. Ours have been in our storage room in our basement which has increasingly disturbed me. Is this the best place? Won't our entire house be on top of that room if if caved in? What good is a 72 hour kit or evacuation kit under 20 million tons of bricks, concrete, wood and other debris? Hmmm.

However The Marshmallow wants me to consider mice getting into my kit so I'm not sure what the solution is. I'd rather keep the goods for ourselves, and not feed the vermin of the neighborhood while we're waiting for The Big One.

All in all, I feel 80% prepared for a natural disaster. I hope it doesn't come because that 20% will be alarmingly conspicuous on that day when I wish I had been 100% prepared.

Every Woman Knows The Feeling...

2011-02-19T23:02:00.003-07:00

You know when you really know you don't want to have another baby...and then you think there might be a tiny possibility that you might be, and your mind starts nibbling the idea. And you start re-allocating bedroom space, and thinking about if you have appropriate modes of transportation, and your mind wanders over names again, you think about more stretch marks, and more dieting, and holding a little baby, and how you'll manage another one, figuring out who will babysit 3 monsters, and who will sit where now at the table.............

and then you find that you probably will live through it, and it might even be okay, even fun, even good...........

and then you find out you're not pregnant. And even though you never wanted to have another baby in the first place...........

you're sad?????

estrogen is mean

Tinker - You're 2!!

2011-02-18T00:16:00.001-07:00

On this day, two years ago, I got to hold your little tiny body for the first time. I already knew you. You spoke to me in a special kind of way from the moment I knew you were alive inside of me, which was practically instantaneous.

You are...Nicole, Tinkerpot, Tink, Tinkerbell, Stinkerpot, Tinker, Love Bug, Love, Tinkerdoodle, Coley, Nicolette, Nicoley.

I say, "Good Morning Coley!" You say just as brightly, "Good Morning Coley!"

Your brown eyes mirror my own and your spirit is strong. You are stubborn, willful, bull-headed. Your father and I don't know where you got it but we both insist it was from the other. I suspect you inherited it from both and got a double dose. Good for you - in this world, you'll need it to stay strong and self-assured.

You are lovable...on your terms only. You insist on a good-night kiss every night and it's one of the few times when you offer first. Hugs are rare from you but you always want me to kiss your owies and lick your toes.

You're ticklish on every part of your body and your giggle is so infectious. As a matter of fact, you're loud - passionate about everything. No one is happy when you're not and no one is unhappy when you're happy. Your smile changes everything - your face, the room, anyone in your presence. But we all know when you're mad too. As a last resort, you'll lie face-down on the carpet silent as stone until you realize you're being ignored and then you'll hop up and act as if nothing happened.

You're a climber, a runner, a dancer, a singer, a Nemo lover. You are a marvelous mess maker. You are a candy lover. You're clever, having already found out how to open your sister's closed bedroom door and sleuth where she hides her candy, chapstick, marbles, pens and paint. Your little feet are so chubby they won't fit in any shoes but the very expensive kind although I have boxes and boxes of your sister's. You have a perpetual bruise on your forehead.

Coley, you are the one who made our family complete. We waited for you. I knew we were missing you. We were a wonderful family without you but are united forever as the family God intended now that you are here. I wonder who you will turn into as you grow. One thing I know, I want to be in your life for the rest of mine. I hope to always be your best friend. I pray that I will know how to use your stubborn nature to your advantage and mold you into the kind of woman that your Father in Heaven will be proud of. I am already proud of you and couldn't possibly love you any more. Just keep swimming, baby girl.

Your mom. Happy Birthday Tink.

I Heart GoodReads

2011-02-03T20:20:00.005-07:00

Have you heard of GoodReads? I think most of you probably have and if you haven't, go there immediately. Or, go to my left sidebar and follow the link. If you're a reader (which you probably are since you're here...reading.)

I'm a huge reader. I wouldn't say I'd read anything as the older I get, the more discerning I become, but I read a lot. I used to read a book even if I wasn't enjoying it. Now, I'll read a few pages and if I can't get into it, I dump it. There's too many fish in the sea.

Tonight I got on a bunch of my friend's lists and had so much fun finding out who likes the same types of books that I do and I added a whole bunch of books to my "to-read" list just based on their tastes (that match mine). That's what's so fun. You never have to wonder what to read ever again!

And so tonight I got sucked into a book read challenge to read 50 books this year. Shouldn't be too hard considering I've already read 5 books this year. At this rate, I'll get well over my goal but we'll see. I sort of go in spurts. Follow my progress (and see what I like to read) by watching my new widget on the the left sidebar. If you think there's a book I might like, leave me a comment! I'll need lots of ideas this year!

But the coolest thing ever is this...I recently found an app for my iPhone that will let me download books from the library to read - not just listen to (I figured out how to download the audiobooks a long time ago) but now I can download them and read them on my iPhone too, for free! I'm totally in Nirvana - the library is an amazing and wonderful creation. So is GoodReads.

It Might Just Have Been Worth It

2011-01-28T21:11:00.004-07:00

(these were the easy days...Tink at 4 months)

The Marshmallow went to a Jazz game with his mom (?!?) tonight and since I was alone, I took my girlie-offspring to the swimming pool. I don't do this. There is not much fun about chasing a headstrong and fear-not toddler around a pool that deepens into oblivion just out of arms reach. Follow this anxiety-inducing experience with managing 3 shivering people, PILES O CRAP that one must bring to the pool with any child under 3, a stroller and the fact that all of us need to be showered, dressed and do it without getting all the dry clothes wet. Add into this mess the fact that the toddler minds no-one and will not think twice about running away from a n@ked mom inside the dressing room, forcing n@ked mom to scurry around to find something to cover herself whilst chasing the demon spawn...god's sweet gift to women. Ahh, it's exciting and exhilarating to be the mother of my Tink.

But I did it today. I hauled my pile o crap, the stroller and children to the rec center along with two pizzas which we ate in 5 seconds flat. And despite my typical MO of not getting wet above the waist, I was drenched. We went down slides, under fountains, around the lazy river, sat on sprayers, sprayed people, dunked each other. I forgot how much fun it can be to go to a pool and do what you're supposed to do there. Get Wet.

They're going to sleep good tonight. At least I hope so because I know I will.

Oops

2011-01-28T12:31:00.002-07:00

So even after my post last night about my second chance of redeeming my Tooth Fairy abilities, I again completely forgot. I ended up with a very dejected 6 year old at 7am. So this lame Tooth Fairy told her to to snuggle up in my own bed and that I had to use the bathroom. I went and performed the Tooth Fairy duties and since it was still dark outside, I told Bugs that there was still a chance that she'd come. A short time later, I pretended to hear tinkling and told Bugs to go check. Redeemed. But I'm feeling pretty stupid and if she doesn't figure it out, then she's not as clever as I thought she was. Perhaps she wants to believe so badly that she'll let it slide.

What's New This Week...

2011-01-27T22:53:00.003-07:00

An update on the compelling details of my life this week...

1) I bought way too many boxes of girl scout cookies because the girls are too cute. p.s. I haven't eaten sugar in like 6 months and when the cookies get here, I may be on a perpetual sugar high and gain like 20 lbs. Ok, that's a lie. I had a big dessert at La Caille the other night but it was a special occasion. I was on a sugar high and I didn't weigh myself.

2) My girlies (friends) got dressed up in dresses and as mentioned in item 1, went to La Caille for the heck of it and had Kelly take our pics. This was out of our group character and crazy whimsical. La Caille treated us like peasants. Maybe it was because our upstairs parts weren't hanging out like theirs.

3) I have a bulging disc in my neck - diagnosed Tuesday and felt relief in my neck area for the first time in a very long time. It caused a migraine last weekend that lasted two days and caused me to be unable to go to church. Wait, maybe that was the sugar!

4) At the recommendation of a friend, I started reading "Sarah's Key" and am captivated.

5) I bought some very sexy shoes at Ross for $7. I have no idea where I'll wear them.

6) Started emotionally preparing for The Marshmallow's extended trip to Hawaii and how I'm going to cope. Decided that during the time that he's gone I will a) break Tinkerpot finally of the binky (a task that can only be achieved in The Marshmallows extended absence or he wouldn't be called The Marshmallow) and 2) go visit my little sis who moved to Denver a month ago (the horrible 8 hour drive through the wastelands of Wyoming). This trip will be a good tester for Tink who is able to drive ME to insanity in 2 minutes flat if she is unhappy - and visit my dad who also lives in Denver.

9) Completed screwed up being the Tooth Fairy by forgetting the other night to BE the Tooth Fairy but interestingly, tonight, am being given another chance for the second time in one week. Bugs has lost her 2nd incisor in 5 days. She prayed tonight that the Tooth Fairy was real.

8) I might actually go to bed tonight for the first time on like 3 weeks before 1am. And on that note...

good night.

9/11

2011-01-23T22:22:00.004-07:00

I've been sick today - hanging out with a migraine from hell. At least it was a Sunday and not a really busy day. Still a waste of a perfectly good day.

The TV watchers in my family (of which I'm not really one) are really into the National Geographic channel lately (NatGeo). For some reason, everything on today was related to 9/11. The best program of them all by far was one called "How It Was" and it was about the Voices of 9/11. I've watched a lot of documentaries on 9/11 because The Marshmallow is a documentary type of guy but this one was far and away, the best one I've seen. I've cried a lot of tears over the years for everything that happened that day and everyone that was affected, especially those that lost their lives and their families but it's been a few years since I've been moved to tears again.

Until today, during this program I'm telling you about. A lot of it was interviews with the 911 operators and they described the telephone conversations they had with the folks inside the towers and then how after they fell, the conversations began with the families looking for their loved ones. And the operators were these middle people who were going to be the first line communication to all of those looking for survivors. They said they probably weren't even going to watch the program when it came out.

And then after all of the telephone messages from loved ones, and from those who died to loved ones - this went on for a long time...just listening to the messages, then you saw the towers fall. And it was so emotional because you associated all of those voices with people who were dying, right this very minute as the building crashes down. The emergency workers are rushing up the stairs and it takes them forever to get all the way up to those high stories just in time for the tower to fall down. It was so devastating. I couldn't help but re-live it all over again.

I hate that day. I hate that so many innocent people had to die. I hate that so many children don't have parents now. I especially hate that so many people chose between death by fire or by jumping to their death. I wish so badly that it were all different. I can't believe that there are people in the world that would resort to such cruelty. I just don't get it. And if it takes a certain wisdom to understand this religious fervor, then I don't want it.

Indecision

2011-01-13T01:02:00.003-07:00

The Marshmallow has an opportunity to go to Hawaii very soon for work for about a month. We've talked for a long time about going there together so we were both sort of bummed when we found out he'd be going and I wouldn't be able to go along because of the nature of the trip.

But, then we started thinking that maybe I could fly down for an extended weekend or something (without the kids!!!). I found some great airfare which really can't be beat but I just can't decide.

We have our summer vacation planned and I'm saving for that and really shouldn't justify spending the extra money on an ancillary trip like this - but there's hardly a better opportunity and I'd really not spend much more than the airfare. I just don't know what to do.

The responsible side says to stay home, buckle down and save the money for the fam trip. But the frivolous girl who always wanted to go to Hawaii with The Marshmallow says "what the heck".

I'll probably go because we all know I'm far less responsible than I like to be. I'm excited! 4 days with The Marshmallow will be just like before kids!

I'll Be Honest

2011-01-11T20:47:00.002-07:00

...about the primary reason I've been so reclusive. Remember my post about googling my name? Well the truth is I just can't get over it! My mind keeps hitting upon people that probably have googled my name (peeps in my past) that frankly belong in my past but are probably reading every excruciating detail of my life and it's weirding me out! I've thought a lot about going private but then I can't see the point. One of my comments from that post mentioned taking my post off of google searches and I've thought about that too. I just might do that because at least I'll maintain a little anonymity. I think back on a lot of my posts and get this icky feeling about "those" eyes reading these words, seeing my prego cankles, seeing me lying in that bed post-birth and nameless other posts that weren't necessarily private but weren't written for "them". Get it?

Idk what to do. I wish I knew for sure who is reading this. Maybe I should just hold back a little more. Ya, I deleted the fertility post k?

I Want One

2011-01-09T21:53:00.004-07:00

This is the super cute apron I made for my older sister for Christmas. We drew names and I got her (hmmm, how'd that happen - I have no idea). I'm seriously wishing I'd made two.isn't she cute?

Bugs - Moving On Up

2011-01-09T21:39:00.002-07:00

This January marked a monumental occasion for Bugs. A skill she's been working on for several years has finally reached a milestone. We were at an ice skating birthday party last week and Bugs literally wanted me to hold her hand around the ice rink as she held onto the edge. I did this in boots because I didn't want to get skates. I ended up getting in trouble so when I got back outfitted in my skates, there was a woman with Bugs out in the middle of the rink and Bugs was skating and the woman barely had her hands on Bugs. Turns out this woman is an ice-skating instructor who was there and noticed Bugs needed some help. I followed them at a safe distance for awhile until I could see Bugs had the knack of it. By the end of the party, Bugs had it down and was completely on her own. I was so proud of her and she was very proud of herself. It's so great to see your kids learning new skills and how great they feel about themselves when they persevere and gain mastery of something hard. I think we're finally ready to tackle skiing. I've been waiting for that for nearly 7 years! My very own ski buddy.

Tinker

2011-01-09T21:13:00.006-07:00

My active child. My headstrong child. My obstinate & clever (mischievous) child. My lovely, squishy child. MY child. The one who looks just like I did as a baby. The one that I have to watch with 5 eyes. My very special little girl who is my heart's delight and my biggest angst.

Tinkerpot crawled out of her crib two weeks ago for the first time. She was extremely angry and decided she was not going to bed after all. I have zero tolerance for "behavior" at bedtime so I walked out. Minutes later I heard a thud and of course any mother knows that sound (and dreads the crib-escapee). She has found her way out of her ~~prison~~ crib.

This is a picture of the crib. That front bar doesn't go up or down and the mattress in this picture is at it slowest level already. You can't tell very well but the front bar takes a steep curve down in the middle. There was virtually no hope in the situation given that she's innately a climber. So, I did the only thing I could do. After the escape incident, I turned the crib so the front is now the back - against the wall. Yes, it's now a little harder to put her in and out but she's old enough to set in there and tell her to lie down, and she does. It works. Bugs was in a big-girl bed on her 2nd birthday but that's because she was not as willful as my 2nd child. I'm pretty sure Tinker would NOT stay in her bed and we'd have some long nights.

My Tinkerpot is wonderful - still roly-poly as ever and such a character. We have simple conversations with her that usually end with her telling us "I don't know" or her bragging about throwing all of her binkies back behind the crib. She won't eat a thing if it's not a noodle or cheese and she has a perpetual bruise/scrape on her forehead. She has unruly hair and feet that won't feasibly fit into anything remotely cute. But she gives wet, slobbery kisses and she asks for hugs all day long. She's 2 next month. How did this happen?